California State University, Bakersfield professor Dominique Apollon is continuing his fight against racism using music as the universal language.

The political science professor’s organization, The Bakersfield Cultural Exchange, is sponsoring its second event with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. at the Rabobank Convention Center.

The group is currently soliciting donations to purchase symphony tickets for a diverse group of CSUB students and local youth to attend the Saturday evening performance.

Some 75 CSUB faculty, staff, students and their friends and family attended the Oct. 15 symphony performance. “We received donations to purchase and distribute more than 50 tickets for local students for our first event,” Apollon said. “I've been really encouraged by the level of support here at CSUB and in the community in general thus far.”

Apollon said the BCE is encouraging all ages, races, and religious backgrounds to attend the orchestra as a way to support a longstanding cultural institution in the community. The organization’s intent is to create an emerging network of local residents committed to expanding opportunities for a healthy cultural exchange. Their Web site and group are not affiliated with CSUB.

“The BSO has been kind enough to provide us with a discounted group rate, and we've received messages of support from representatives of local government, the arts community, local schools, and some racial and ethnic groups,” Apollon added. “Of course, there is still plenty of work to be done to continue spreading our message, but we're off to a good start."
The professor said some of the complementary tickets for the Nov. 12 event will be going to high school and junior high school children from migrant farmworking families. “I’m really excited because these kids would not normally be exposed to this type of experience,” he said.